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Immigration Changes Face Of U.S. Religion

American Buddhists are small in number, but their profile is magnified by celebrity adherents.
"All my students know who the Dalai Lama is," says Hamilton College professor Richard Seager, author of "Buddhism in America."
Hollywood, which usually sneers at Christianity, has spawned movies on Buddhism and prominent practitioners include actor Richard Gere, action star Steven Seagal and rocl singer Tina Turner...
"I think that one can say that Buddhism's emphasis on meditation has drawn the attention of many people," Mr. Seager says. "Christianity has a rich contemplative tradition, but Buddhism for some reason has made meditation poplular."